Strainer for wells



July 13, 1926.

J. H. M EVOY, JR

STRAINER FOR WELLS V Filed Sept. 28, 1925 Patented July 13,1926

JOSEPH HENRY MeEvoY,

.13., or HOUSTON, 'rnxAsL srmmnn iron wnLLs.

Application filed September 28, 1925. Serial No. 59,063.

My invention relates to a well strainer for filtering the impurities from liquid comlng from the producin formation into the well.

It is anobje'ct 0 the invention to provide a compound filtering means, in a button type strainer, which will most eflicientlydimit the entrance of foreign particles, such as sand. to the interior of the pipe. It is desired to provide a plurality of screening surfaces With a space between them, in which foreign material may gather to assist in the filtering operation.

In the drawin I have illustrated my invention as apphed to one form of button strainer. Fig. 1 shows a top plan "iew of a broken pipe section with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a pipe with my improvement therein.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a slightly different arrangement. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the Fig. 3 embodiment. Like numerals refer to like parts in all the views. I

The form of button or plug shown inthe drawing and the method .-of securing the same in position'in the pi e are believed to be old. The pipe 1 is o theusual heavy construction employed in deep oil wells. A circular o ening 2 is bored in the said pipe for each ltering inlet and it is understood that thenumber of openings may be regulated as desired.

The openings 2 are reamed to enlarge the same from the outer side ofthe pipe, the reamed portion 3 providing'a seator'shoulder 4 to receive the filtering buttons.

My invention consists in the seating, in the reamed openings, of a plurality of buttons, one on top of the other. The buttons are preferably made of discs of metal, such as brass or steel, one side of which is cupped somewhat, having a marginal rim 5. The wall 6 between this cupped portion and the other side'is provided with a plurality of parallel slots 7, the walls of whiclicare parallel adjacent the outer face, but diverge rapidly toward the cupped side to provide inner troughs 8. The fluid entering through the slots 7 finds a free passage through the widening troughs 8 to the interior of the pipe. The ordinary difliculty with this type of strainer, where one button is used in each opening, is that the fine sand may enter and gradually wear away the walls of the slots, thus impairing the original effectiveness of the screen. 1

I, therefore, employ two of these buttons,

one set on top of the other so as to provide an open space 9 between them. In said space 9, the current of flowing oil is slower than through the narrow slots of the buttons and the grains of sand may therefore settle out to some extentbefore the fluid passes through the inner strainer plug. The sand may gradually accumulate to fill the space 9 and act as a further filtering medium in combination with the two buttons.

The slots of the twobuttons may be set at right angles to each other, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or they may be set parallel as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The Fig. 1 embodiment is somewhat preferred because it allows a more devious passage for the liquid, thus assisting in the settling out of the sand that passes the outer plug. When the plugs have been.

seated in the reamed opening, the edge 10 of the said opening may be upset to hold thebuttons in position.

The advanta es of my invention lie in theuse of a plurality of buttons of the type described, in such manner that they may together form a compound filter employing sand as a portion of the screening medium.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A well strainer comprising a pipe havinginlet openings therein, a plurality of strainer plugs in each of said openings, said plugs comprising circular slotted discs fitting said openings, one face of each disc being cupped, said cupped faces being directed inwardly of the pipe whereby a space is provided between said discs for the accumulation of sand, in the manner described.

2. A well strainer comprising a pipe having inletopenings therein, a reamed seat in each opening, a pluralitypf strainer plugs in each openingfitting in said seat, each plug comprising a disc cupped on one side and having strainer slots in the outer wall. the-cupped faces being directed inwardly of the pipe and providing a space between adjacent plugs, said slots Widening inwardly in the manner described. 7

3. A well strainer comprising a pipe having inlet openings therein, an inner shoulder in each opening, a plurality of strainer plugs of the same external diameter secured in each opening outside said shoulder, each plug being formed of a circular disc cupped on one side and slotted to provide strainer passages, 10 the slots on one plug being set at right angles to the slots on the next adjacent plug.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiixmy signature this 23d day of September, A. l). 1925.

JOSEPH HENRY MGEVOY, J n. 

